Skill Levels

Anderson Ranch welcomes students of all levels of experience—absolute beginners to professionals. Some of our classes are tailored for beginners and some require prior experience; most welcome a range of skill levels. Our guidelines are intended to help you determine what classes are best suited to your level of experience. Each workshop has been rated with one or more skill levels. These levels indicate the technical knowledge and experience a student should have to effectively participate in the course.

Please reference this list before registering and apply only to courses that are appropriate for your experience level. Some advanced workshops may have additional prerequisites and/or require a portfolio submission; this will be indicated in the individual course descriptions.

Ceramics

Level II – Students have a basic understanding of forming techniques, such as throwing and hand building. Students have taken one or two ceramics classes or workshops.

Level III – Students have significant experience with clay forming techniques, such as throwing, hand building and modeling. Students are comfortable with ceramics equipment, such as wheels, extruders and slab rollers. Students are self­-starting with some formal training and have taken a minimum of three classes or workshops.

Level IV – Students have advanced skills and knowledge of the ceramics field. Students are highly motivated, have a minimum of five years experience in the field and have a portfolio of their artwork. Typical students are academics and professional artists.

INTENSIVES – Multi-week programs designed for artists of varying skill levels to immerse themselves in the studio practice of their choice while working alongside established faculty.

Digital Fabrication

Open to All – Students of any skill and knowledge level, but have some computer skills.

Level I – Students are new to digital fabrication and have no formal training, but have some computer skills.

Level II – Students have experience working with computer­-aided design with basic principles of CAM/software.

Level III – Students have some formal training in digital fabrication, experience with a variety of materials and fabrication processes, and know how to use CNC, 3-­D printers, or laser cutters competently and safely. Students have a portfolio of their work.

Level IV – Students have advanced skill and knowledge of digital fabrication. Students are highly motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.

INTENSIVES – Multi-week programs designed for artists of varying skill levels to immerse themselves in the studio practice of their choice while working alongside established faculty.

Furniture Design & Woodworking

Level I – Students are new to Furniture Design & Woodworking and have no formal training.

Level II – Students have experience working with stationary machines and power tools and are familiar with basic principles of joinery and 3­-D design.

Level III – Students have some formal training in 3­-D design, experience with a variety of materials and fabrication processes, and know how to use machine and hand tools competently and safely. Students have a portfolio of their artwork.

Level IV – Students have advanced skill and knowledge of furniture design. Students are highly motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.

INTENSIVES – Multi-week programs designed for artists of varying skill levels to immerse themselves in the studio practice of their choice while working alongside established faculty.

Painting & Drawing

Level I – Students have very limited experience or none at all. Classes usually start with a full day of basic instruction.

Level II – Students have basic knowledge of 2-­D art making including form, negative space, value and line.

Level III – Students have formal training in critical issues of 2-­D art making, experience with public critiques and a solid portfolio of their artwork.

Level IV – Students have advanced skill and knowledge of painting and drawing. Students are highly motivated and self­-directed, have a minimum of five years experience in their field and
have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Portfolio review is required for admittance to some Level IV classes.

INTENSIVES – Multi-week programs designed for artists of varying skill levels to immerse themselves in the studio practice of their choice while working alongside established faculty.

Photography & New Media

Level I – Students are new to photography and new media and have no formal training in photography, video, multimedia or animation. Students have basic computer literacy.

Level II – Photography students have a basic understanding of photography principles and technology and are comfortable using an SLR camera in manual mode. New Media students have a basic understanding of video, multimedia or animation software. Students have basic computer skills and are comfortable using a Macintosh computer.

Level III – Photography students have some formal training and significant experience making, capturing and digitally processing images using Adobe Lightroom and/or Adobe Photoshop. New Media students have some formal training in conceptual and technological aspects of video, multimedia, coding or animation and are versed in the appropriate software applications.
Students have a portfolio of their artwork.

Level IV – Photography students have advanced skills and knowledge of photography and digital image processing. New Media students have advanced skills and knowledge of video, multimedia, coding or animation. Students are self­-motivated and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.

INTENSIVES – Multi-week programs designed for artists of varying skill levels to immerse themselves in the studio practice of their choice while working alongside established faculty.

Printmaking

Level I – Students have very limited experience or none at all. Classes usually start with a full day of basic instruction.

Level II – Students have a basic understanding of press operation, tools common to printmaking, paper preparation and basic principles of registration.

Level III – Students have significant experience in the print medium that is the subject of the workshop.

Level IV – Students have advanced skill and knowledge of the printmaking fields. Students are highly motivated and self­-directed, have a minimum of five years experience in their field, and have multiple portfolios of their artwork. Portfolio review is required for admittance to some Level IV classes.

INTENSIVES – Multi-week programs designed for artists of varying skill levels to immerse themselves in the studio practice of their choice while working alongside established faculty.

Sculpture

Open to All – Students of any skill and knowledge level.

Level I – Students are new to sculpture and have no formal training.

Level II – Students have a basic knowledge of 3­-D art making and sculpture concepts and are comfortable using a variety of hand and power tools. Students have taken one or two sculpture classes or workshops.

Level III – Students have experience with a variety of materials and fabrication techniques and know how to use hand and power tools competently and safely. Students are self­-starting with some formal training in critical aspects of sculpture and have completed a portfolio of work. Students have taken a minimum of three classes or workshops.

Level IV – Students have advanced skills and knowledge of sculpture. Students are highly motivated, have a minimum of five years experience in the field and have multiple portfolios of
their artwork. Typical students are academics and professional artists.

INTENSIVES – Multi-week programs designed for artists of varying skill levels to immerse themselves in the studio practice of their choice while working alongside established faculty.

Woodturning

Level I – Students are new to woodturning and have no formal training.

Level II – Students have a basic understanding of fundamental turning tools and techniques and are comfortable using and sharpening bowl gouges and spindle gouges.

Level III – Students have significant turning experience using both green and kiln­-dried lumber. Students are capable of selecting wood, able to use and sharpen gouges, and familiar with basic principles of 3­-D design. Students have some formal technical training in woodturning and have a portfolio of their artwork.

Level IV – Students have advanced skill and knowledge of woodturning. Students are highly motivated, and have multiple portfolios of their artwork.